Job 32-34

Age is not what makes wisdom..
It's the God living and breathing inside of me that makes one wise.


I thought, ‘Age should speak; 
   advanced years should teach wisdom.’ 
⁸ But it is the spirit^[b] in a person, 
   the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding. 
⁹ It is not only the old^[c] who are wise, 
   not only the aged who understand what is right.
Job 32:7-9


Job 32


Elihu finally speaks..


The men finally stopped speaking, because they saw that Job was righteous in his own eyes. Elihu got very angry at Job and the friends. He was angry at Job for justifying himself, instead of God doing it. He got mad at the friends for not saying anything in defense to Job. See this is the first time Elihu has spoken. The other men had been doing the fighting and arguing on his behalf, but now... no-one spoke. So, Elihu got angry and began to speak to Job..
Elihu is the younger of all the men. Elihu did not speak. No, he listened to Job while he gave his argument and complaint. Elihu thought that someone older with wisdom should be the one to speak to Job. Yet, because no-one else spoke.. Elihu is speaking. He obviously looked up to these men. He spoke on how age does not make wisdom, but it is God's breath in us that gives us understanding. Elihu is full of words and ready to burst and say what he is compelled to say.


Job 33


Elihu continues to speak. He (Elihu) is created by God just the same. He is but clay made by God's very hands. Elihu calls himself upright in heart, and wants Job to argue/plead his case to him.


First thing that encourages me is Elihu repeats what Job told his friends about his standing before God. Job called himself clean in one breath and in the next--God considers him an enemy.


God is bigger than any of us! God speaks to us! Elihu condemns Job for complaining to God. Following this, Elihu describes Job's state of constant pains and his bones showing from his illness. Elihu says that if there is angel to defend on his behalf, he would be cleared. Then, they can be fully restored. God can deliver us from going down a pit.


Elihu concludes temporarily by telling Job to speak up, and that he only wants Job to be cleared.


What I struggle with is others' point of view of a pit. A pit can be caused by numerous things, not necessarily sin. It is easy to be judged by others, when we are going through a hard trial or testing phase of our lives. It is not easy for us, but what is harder is others' thinking they are more wise than we are while we go through our struggle.


Still what gets me is not one of his friends volunteered to pray to God for Job to be cleared or for discernment about Job's situation.


Job 34


Elihu seeks to teach the men wisdom and discernment about what is right. He says that Job says, "I am innocent and right, yet God denies me justice". Elihu says many things, but what strikes me is he says that Job keeps company with evil doers. God would not cause harm or pervert justice. While I somewhat agree with Elihu on this, I do firmly believe that trials and testings come into our lives that we do not deserve, but they are to show our spiritual strength and grow us deeply..


Elihu continues to talk about how just our God is. God is just. I completely agree! Yet while I agree that God is just, I do trust and thank God we have been given Job 1. I am thankful to know what testings must come, so I can grow and not despair as much in times of trial. There is purpose behind them.


Job definitely wasn't tested for acting like a wicked man. On the contrary, Job was tested because he was a righteous man. I think the only way Job hung out with those who do evil is by hanging out with his friends who may have been wise in their own eyes, but spoke not very wisely..